good bulbs for wedding gifts

by Vanessa
(Los Angeles, CA)

I'm getting married in October and was thinking about using bulbs or flower seeds as favors. Originally, I was thinking of bulbs because when I was a kid in Pennsylvania, we had a yard full of tulips and daffodils that would bloom every spring, without a great deal of attention. And I love the idea of giving something that blooms perennially.

Or course, now that I'm researching it, I'm discovering that bulbs aren't quite as easy as I thought. The biggest problem is that I live in Los Angeles, and most of my guests live here as well. (However, I will also have guests from Florida, Massachusetts and New York.) So most of my guests won't be able to just stick them in the ground and wait for spring. it would have to be something that could be grown easily in a container, and that wouldn't require an excess amount of care from people who might not be very gardening-oriented.

I know I've seen paperwhites in gift "kits" before. But can you think of anything else that might be a little more colorful, and yet still easy to grow (and even re-grow)?

I'd appreciate any ideas!

Doug says that most folks can grow Amaryllis and they're huge, great flowers, can be grown indoors or out (in mild CA) and will (if care is taken) last for years. Paperwhites are also easy but many people don't like the fragrance (I can't stand it). Small evergreen trees or herb plants are also appreciated by many non-gardeners. Or a choice and tell everybody to swap and get what they need. :-)